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[braunbergert]

Howdy all!
So I’m currently working on my medical school application. Here is a quick run down: I have done quite a bit of volunteer work… MOW, soup kitchen, mission trip, etc… and have shadowed some doctors. I will have a biology and a chemistry major after my next year of undergrad. My gpa is still a 4.0 (knock on wood). Where I think I am really lacking in my app is my MCAT score. I got a 25 I took it last summer… the summer after my sophomore year. I need some advice. Do I retake it and risk getting a lower score, or do I go with it and try to get in SOMEWHERE with it??

One more question. I have time in my schedule this next year to get a psychology minor. Should I do this orrrr should I take some courses that I am more interested in like Spanish?

Thanks a bunch for your advice

[wshelton]

quote:

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Originally posted by braunbergert

Howdy all!
So I’m currently working on my medical school application. Here is a quick run down: I have done quite a bit of volunteer work… MOW, soup kitchen, mission trip, etc… and have shadowed some doctors. I will have a biology and a chemistry major after my next year of undergrad. My gpa is still a 4.0 (knock on wood). Where I think I am really lacking in my app is my MCAT score. I got a 25 I took it last summer… the summer after my sophomore year. I need some advice. Do I retake it and risk getting a lower score, or do I go with it and try to get in SOMEWHERE with it??

One more question. I have time in my schedule this next year to get a psychology minor. Should I do this orrrr should I take some courses that I am more interested in like Spanish?

Thanks a bunch for your advice

---

Dear Nraunbergert,
Thanks for your inquiry. I would definitely suggest that you retake the MCAT and shoot for a much better score. With your current score you have little chance of getting into a U.S. medical school. Given your grades, you should be able to improve with some good preparation, including taking a lot of practice exams. Regarding your other question, take whichever courses interest you the most–shouldn’t matter to medical school committees. Hope this helps.
Best,

Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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[wshelton]

quote:

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Originally posted by jcolli34

I am non-traditional student. I spent five years in the Navy as a medic providing medical care in combat in Iraq. I also do my summers in central and south America with Operation Smile and other humanitarian type issues. I was satisfied with being a medic and only in school with a get by attitude. On top of my bad attitude my son was born which kept me quite busy. Either way after a summer in poor areas of foreign countries I began to feel irrelevant like I didn’t know enough to help. As a result of my complacency my first few years of college where I refused to pick up a book my GPA sits at roughly 2.9. This includes all the prereqs for med school. As a result my science gpa is lower than my cumulative gpa. I have a year left of school and my gpa upon graduation will without a doubt be above a 3.0. I have yet to take the MCAT but I am scheduled to do so in July when I return from a semester abroad in Europe. What I am wondering is how detrimental will my gpa be to the application process. Also should I wait a year to see where my GPA ends up? Ultimately, if I don’t get accepted into a MD or DO school is medical school in the Caribbean a viable option?

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Dear Jcolli34,
Thanks for contacting us. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. But to answer your question, if you are ever to be competitive at U.S. MD programs, you have to take additional courses, possibly a post bac program, to get your grades up in advanced science courses. I would suggest you taking more advance science courses regardless-it’s important to try to start a new trend for yourself of getting A’s. I wouldn’t be in any hurry to take the MCAT exam yet-even with a good score, your grades would be an barrier now for medical school admission. So, yes, I would wait a year and see where your GPA ends up and re-evaluate then. In the mix of possibilities at that point will be Caribbean schools that are less competitive.
Hope this helps.

Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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[AdmissionsConsultants]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to mention the June edition of our newsletter will be released on Wednesday, June 1st.

This edition of our free, monthly newsletter will include these items:

• Video: Medical School Personal Statement Do’s and Don’t’s

• FREE Medical School Admissions Webinar!

• New Jersey Considers Restructuring UMDNJ

You can register by clicking here.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com

AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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[ksl57]

Admissions Consultant,

I have taken a health leave this semester and have enrolled in courses this summer so I can still graduate on time. I am a biological engineering sophomore also doing pre-med, and I have signed up to take Linear Algebra, Physics II, Organic Chemistry II, and Thermodynamics at Rutgers University in NJ. Because my grade for Organic Chemistry I was a B+, I was afraid that taking it at another university will make it look like that I am trying to take an easier version of Organic Chemistry II, and I am sure that medical school admissions will frown on that, since my current GPA is 4.062 at Cornell University. My dad is concerned, and he wants me to take Organic Chemistry II at UPenn – his thinking is that the fact that I went out of my way to take Organic Chemistry II at another Ivy League University while taking all the other 3 courses at Rutgers will prove to medical school admissions officers how motivated I am. The problem is, the UPenn Organic Chemistry II class is from 8:30AM to 10AM Monday through Friday, and it is quite a commute from Rutgers University (During the same 6 week period, I will be taking thermodynamics, a requirement for my major, at Rutgers from 6PM to 940PM although only on Mondays and Wednesdays). Although the fact that the admissions officers may look upon my decision to take Organic Chemistry II at UPenn favorably, the commute makes me hesitate. Is the commute worth it? Dropping my thermodynamics course is another option, but trying to squeeze it in the school year might be a hefty load in one semester. What is your opinion on my situation?

Thanks!

Kimberly Lin
Biological Engineering 2013
Cornell University

[wshelton]

quote:

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Originally posted by ksl57

Admissions Consultant,

I have taken a health leave this semester and have enrolled in courses this summer so I can still graduate on time. I am a biological engineering sophomore also doing pre-med, and I have signed up to take Linear Algebra, Physics II, Organic Chemistry II, and Thermodynamics at Rutgers University in NJ. Because my grade for Organic Chemistry I was a B+, I was afraid that taking it at another university will make it look like that I am trying to take an easier version of Organic Chemistry II, and I am sure that medical school admissions will frown on that, since my current GPA is 4.062 at Cornell University. My dad is concerned, and he wants me to take Organic Chemistry II at UPenn – his thinking is that the fact that I went out of my way to take Organic Chemistry II at another Ivy League University while taking all the other 3 courses at Rutgers will prove to medical school admissions officers how motivated I am. The problem is, the UPenn Organic Chemistry II class is from 8:30AM to 10AM Monday through Friday, and it is quite a commute from Rutgers University (During the same 6 week period, I will be taking thermodynamics, a requirement for my major, at Rutgers from 6PM to 940PM although only on Mondays and Wednesdays). Although the fact that the admissions officers may look upon my decision to take Organic Chemistry II at UPenn favorably, the commute makes me hesitate. Is the commute worth it? Dropping my thermodynamics course is another option, but trying to squeeze it in the school year might be a hefty load in one semester. What is your opinion on my situation?

Thanks!

Kimberly Lin
Biological Engineering 2013
Cornell University

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Dear Kimberly,
Thanks for contacting us. Your question is a bit involved for a forum like this, so I hesitate to say anything too definitive. But from what you say I tend to agree with you that adding Orgo II at Penn may be a bit much for you this summer. Have you thought of just taking an additional semester to finish your degree? In general I would suggest that you take the premed courses at your home school and would worry less about a timeline for graduation.
If you want to discuss your situation further and get more detailed advice, just contact our office and set up a one our consultation.
Best wishes,

Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

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[Mswank]

Hey everyone,
I am a non-trad western Canadian pharmacist who has this undying passion to become a physician.My Overall GPA is 3.4,my pre-req GPA is 3.5 and my best 2 years was a 3.8. I have some ec’s that i think are great, ie . preceptor for pharmacy students, volunteer diabetes educator, volunteer with inuit groups etc, and I am trying to determine if I should write the MCAT.

To add to my application last year I started a post grad PharmD , finished my courses that I was enrolled in (they did not assign letter grades, it was H,P,F) and decided to withdraw because my heart was in medicine, not pharmacy.

So, I guess my question is, should I write the MCAT? and if I do what score should I be hoping to achieve to give me a fighting chance at canadian and/or american schools.

Thanks for any help you are willing to give me!

edit: fixed spelling and added western

[wshelton]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mswank

Hey everyone,
I am a non-trad western Canadian pharmacist who has this undying passion to become a physician.My Overall GPA is 3.4,my pre-req GPA is 3.5 and my best 2 years was a 3.8. I have some ec’s that i think are great, ie . preceptor for pharmacy students, volunteer diabetes educator, volunteer with inuit groups etc, and I am trying to determine if I should write the MCAT.

To add to my application last year I started a post grad PharmD , finished my courses that I was enrolled in (they did not assign letter grades, it was H,P,F) and decided to withdraw because my heart was in medicine, not pharmacy.

So, I guess my question is, should I write the MCAT? and if I do what score should I be hoping to achieve to give me a fighting chance at canadian and/or american schools.

Thanks for any help you are willing to give me!

edit: fixed spelling and added western

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Dear Mswank,
Thanks for your inquiry. Given the information you provide in this message, I would think that you are quite ready to start preparing for the MCAT exam. I would suggest taking a prep course that includes a number of practice exams. You will need to score into the 30’s to be competitive for medical school admission. So you want to consistently score in that area on your practice exams before you sit for the real thing. Hope this helps.
Best wishes,

Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

Keep up with us on:

[Mswank]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I will definately be in contact once I finish the MCAT for some help with my application.

Thanks Again

[am911991]

Hi there, first, thank you for offering this service! I have recently started using it, and am finding it very, very useful.

I have just finished my second year, Biochemistry major, at the University of Texas- Austin, and thru my Biochem degree so far, have a cumulative GPA of 3.43 . The reason for the low GPA can be tracked down to a single C which I received in Engineering Multivar calculus, which I happened to take currently with 19 hours of coursework. In the same semester, I developed paratosis, and also faced the death of my grandfather.

I will be taking the MCATs this coming January. Also, I have pretty decent research experience, and worked in a lab the Texas Medical Center in my breaks. I should have two or three publication, on which I’m a middle author, by the time I’m finished with my Junior year. I hope to get letters of recommendation from the M.D. and the PhD that I am currently working with.

I also have a good amount of extra curriculars at UT-Austin; I’m a Resident Assistant in a dorm and and officer for an a cappella group on campus.

I have been considering staying for an extra semester at UT-Austin, to pick up a second major in either Public Health or Social Work. The reasoning behind this, while partially motivated by having an opportunity to raise the GPA (thru additional course work), is interest driven, as I, one-day, hope to serve a few terms with the World Health Organisation. I feel as though a Public Health or Social Work degree would:
A. Help me better understand a field that I’ve always been interested in (charitable health care)
B. Give me volunteer opportunities/community work based internships that could lead to interesting personal statements.

My questions are:

1. Is it worth staying in school for an extra semester to pursue this additional degree, based on my motivation for doing so? Or, being 100% set on medical school, would it be wiser to graduate at my normal time and apply then?

i.e. is a another bachelors degree really going to add a compelling dimension to my application?

2. Is it advisable to get recommendations from current M.D.’s and PhD’s? I will, of course, have the staple science/non-science professor recommendations required, but would the other 2, research related recs help my cause?

Thank you so much, and I really am considering using your website/services in the near future, when the time for me to apply comes around!

[wshelton]

quote:

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Originally posted by am911991

Hi there, first, thank you for offering this service! I have recently started using it, and am finding it very, very useful.

I have just finished my second year, Biochemistry major, at the University of Texas- Austin, and thru my Biochem degree so far, have a cumulative GPA of 3.43 . The reason for the low GPA can be tracked down to a single C which I received in Engineering Multivar calculus, which I happened to take currently with 19 hours of coursework. In the same semester, I developed paratosis, and also faced the death of my grandfather.

I will be taking the MCATs this coming January. Also, I have pretty decent research experience, and worked in a lab the Texas Medical Center in my breaks. I should have two or three publication, on which I’m a middle author, by the time I’m finished with my Junior year. I hope to get letters of recommendation from the M.D. and the PhD that I am currently working with.

I also have a good amount of extra curriculars at UT-Austin; I’m a Resident Assistant in a dorm and and officer for an a cappella group on campus.

I have been considering staying for an extra semester at UT-Austin, to pick up a second major in either Public Health or Social Work. The reasoning behind this, while partially motivated by having an opportunity to raise the GPA (thru additional course work), is interest driven, as I, one-day, hope to serve a few terms with the World Health Organisation. I feel as though a Public Health or Social Work degree would:
A. Help me better understand a field that I’ve always been interested in (charitable health care)
B. Give me volunteer opportunities/community work based internships that could lead to interesting personal statements.

My questions are:

1. Is it worth staying in school for an extra semester to pursue this additional degree, based on my motivation for doing so? Or, being 100% set on medical school, would it be wiser to graduate at my normal time and apply then?

i.e. is a another bachelors degree really going to add a compelling dimension to my application?

2. Is it advisable to get recommendations from current M.D.’s and PhD’s? I will, of course, have the staple science/non-science professor recommendations required, but would the other 2, research related recs help my cause?

Thank you so much, and I really am considering using your website/services in the near future, when the time for me to apply comes around!

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Dear Am911991,
Thanks for your inquiry. Overall I wouldn’t worry too much about your GPA at this point. It’s still early as you have the next two years to improve your grades. You have plenty of time.
Regarding whether to stay on for another major/degree, this is a matter of your personal goals. As far as how this would affect your chances of being admitted to medical school, I doubt it would make a difference, one way or another.
Regarding your letters, you will need a couple from science professors to confirm you are well qualified academically for medically school. Other letters need to focus on broader qualities and characteristics, such as leadership, social skills, working effectively in a group setting, etc. So letters from your supervisors, presumably MD’s and PhD’s, discussing these broader areas will be helpful.
Hope this helps. Let us know when you would like to set up a one-hour consultation so we can review your situation in more detail and depth.
Best,

Dr. Shelton
Senior Consultant
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885

Keep up with us on:

[mecooper]

I had a question about my med school admission potential. I recently graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Linguistics with a 3.93 GPA. I was in the honors program and have tons of ec’s and volunteer experience (medical and otherwise), and I will be starting a Nursing Masters program this fall at my state medical school which is intended for students who have an undergrad degree in anything other than nursing. I have always had in the back of my head that I wanted to go to medical school, but thought that CRNA might be the better route for time/admissions security reasons. However, I have recently decided that medical school really is the way I want to go, but now that I have accepted admission to a program at my state med school, I feel that I have to follow through or if I did ever want to apply to med school there in the future, it would be an automatic strike against me since I accepted admission to a program and then didn’t matriculate. The program lasts 16 months, and I was thinking about working for about a year and half as an RN before starting a post-bac program and applying to medical school. I was wondering that all things pending (future grades, MCAT, etc.), if I would still be a viable candidate for med school, or if my academic background may make me appear too flighty, unsure, etc. I REALLY want to become a doctor, but I just wanted to make sure it’s not a pipe dream before I put so much time and effort into something that isn’t really a realistic option in the first place. Any advice is much appreciated!! Thanks so much in advance for all your help!

[am911991]

Dr. Shelton, thanks for the quick reply! Once again, I think this is an invaluable service that you guys are offering to us students. Be on the look out for me to reach out to the company very soon. Also going to recommend this forum to my friends, and you can bank on me posting questions again.

[mderrybe]

I just finished my undergrad degree, and because of unforeseen circumstances I have a lower GPA (3.16) and a different degree than I wanted (General Studies). My junior year I had one surgery in the fall during finals week and a second the following summer, after a doctor made a medical error during a procedure and then lied about it. I was in the hospital for 8 days after I had to be taken home 3 weeks before finals. I have taken the required Pre-Med courses and I am moving to Arkansas hoping to get in to UAMS as a resident. If I do well on my MCAT, do you think admissions will be able to overlook my GPA? Also, if I get back my MCAT score and I’m not happy, the next MCAT date I will be able to register for is August 5th–is that too late?

[ttam_ma_i]

Admissions Consultants,

I graduated approximately 6 months ago from a state university here in GA with a degree in biology. My science and cumulative GPAs are both 4.0. When I took the MCAT in September, I earned a 24T (10-Bio, 7-PS, 7-VR).

I was a very active participant in student organizations, and held numerous leadership positions. I also have experience shadowing physicians and other healthcare providers. & I am currenly working as a researcher/technician at a local medical school for the experience and patient contact hours.

I have research experience, but we are still waiting for the items to be published. There is also a chance that I could have something published as part of my job here as a researcher.

Letters of rec. are plentiful, and come from undergrad professors and some of the physicians with whom I am currently working.

Additional demographics: 22 y/o, not an underrepresented minority, not economically/medically disadvantaged.

—

My question is.. what are my chances of getting into a US allopathic school, given that my MCAT score is so abysmal? I want to re-take, but I am not sure that I will do all that much better given the amount of time that I have to study. Any advice for me?

~ Med. School Hopeful

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